Canadian Film Weekly (Dec 16, 1942)

Page scan 0005 from Canadian Film Weekly

Record Details:

Title:
Canadian Film Weekly
Date:
Dec 16, 1942
Volume:
Canadian Film Weekly (Dec 16, 1942)
Leaf #:
0005
Language:
English
Subjects:
Motion Pictures, Film Industry Trade Magazine",Canad
Collection:
Hollywood Studio System, Global Cinema, and Canada
Format:
periodicals
Contributor:
Media History Digital Library, Canadian Picture Pioneers, Paul Moore and Jessica Whitehead
Coordinator:
Media History Digital Library
Description:

Canadian Film Weekly

  • Editor: Hye Bossin (1942-64)
  • Renamed Canadian Film & TV Bi-Weekly (1965-69, editor: Stan Helleur)
  • Renamed Candian Film Weekly(1970, editor: Ed Hocura)

Canadian Film Weekly (1942-70) was edited by Hye Bossin and published by Film Publications of Canada, Ltd., wholly owned by leading exhibitor, Nat Taylor. In the late 1930s, Taylor was head of the Independent Theatre Association and his Toronto-based chain, Twinex-Century (Twentieth Century), was the largest independent circuit in the country. In 1941, however, he negotiated for chain affiliation with upstart Canadian Odeon before leveraging a better deal and greater booking control with nationally-dominant Famous Players Canada, Ltd. No longer independent, he took ownership of the Independent Theatre Association’s semi-monthly magazine, The Canadian Motion Picture Exhibitor (1940-41), installed Hye Bossin as editor, and laid plans to relaunch in January 1942 under a new name, Canadian Film Weekly. This enduring key publication was no longer solely focused on independent exhibitors but instead covered the entire industry on a national scale–exhibition, distribution and production–with some attention given to studio news from New York and Hollywood.

Bossin was a vibrant writer with a canny way with words, admired in the industry in the United States as well as Canada. He was one of a large family who lived above their father’s secondhand shop in the Jewish “ward” downtown in Toronto. His older brother was a bookie with ties to the underground; his younger brother was a famous journalist, protégé of Walter Winchell, and Hollywood screenwriter. In contrast, Hye spent nearly two decades learning the publishing trade in a printers’ shop before trying a stint as a Hollywood publicist, then writing a column for the Toronto Star Weekly before taking Taylor’s offer to edit the Film Weekly. Bossin was central to the creation of the Canadian Film Archive, the Canadian Film Awards, and he wrote some of the first histories of early cinema in Canada, published in the first volumes of the annual Canadian Film Weekly Year Book (1951-70).

In 1957, the Film Weekly had incorporated the rival Canadian Moving Picture Digest (1917-57), and began dating its start to that paper’s earlier start as the Canadian Universal Bulletin (1915-18). Subsequent variants of the Canadian Film Weekly and its yearbooks always claimed their roots all the way back to 1915 and the origins of the film industry trade press in Canada. After Bossin died in 1964, the Weekly’s new editor, Stan Helleur, renamed the magazine Canadian Film & TV Bi-Weekly, scaling back the pace of publishing but adding a purview for television and broadcasting. The annual was renamed similarly, its subtitle amended to “Year Book of the Canadian Entertainment Industry.” An attempted renewal to weekly format in 1970, edited by Ed Hocura, was short-lived and Nat Taylor decided instead to relaunch under an entirely new title, Canadian Film Digest (1971-77) and Canadian Film Digest Yearbook (1971-86).

– Paul Moore, March 2024

Further Reading

  • Bossin, Hye. “Canada and the Film: The Story of the Canadian Motion Picture Industry.” In Canadian Film Weekly Year Book of the Canadian Motion Picture Industry, 21-41. Toronto: Film Publications of Canada, 1951.
  • Moore, Paul. “Chronicling a National History: Hye Bossin’s Canadian Film Weekly and Year Book.” In Eric Hoyt and Kelley Conway, eds., Global Movie Magazines. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2024.

Date Added:
August 08, 2024
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eleasin 82S iaited reed roo imited ol fae fH. J. ALLEN, President Coast to Coast PRC-Pathe Leads the Way ORPHEUS, HALIFAX Jungle Siren Broadway Big Shot GARRICK, HALIFAX A Yank in Libya Gallant Lady STRAND, MONTREAL Duke of the Navy Bombs Over Burma PRINCESS, MONTREAL Secrets of a Co-Ed HOLLYWOOD, TORONTO They Raid By Night TIVOLI, TORONTO Secrets of a Co-Ed ACE, TORONTO A Yank in Libya Prisoner of Japan CASINO, TORONTO Broadway Big Shot RIALTO, WINNIPEG Jungle Siren Yank in Libya RIO, WINNIPEG Mad Monster Panther’s Claw METROPOLITAN, REGINA Mad Monster Panther’s Claw BROADWAY, REGINA Broadway Big Shot They Raid By Night GRAND, CALGARY Duke of the Navy RIALTO, EDMONTON They iRaid By Night Gallant Lady PLAZA, VANCOUVER Secrets of a Co-Ed PARADISE, VANCOUVER Baby Face Morgan BEACON, VANCOUVER Tomorrow We Live PRC-Pathe Newsworthy Because Noteworthy Producers Releasing Corporation LIMITED Executive Offices: 2771 Victoria St., Toronto, 2, Ont. Canadian FILM WEEKLY Contributions to this column will be greatly appreciated from any member of the motion picture industry, from coast to coast, whether he has chain affiliations or is strictly independent. Address all letters to “What Did You Do?” c/o Film Weekly, 21 Dundas Sq., Toronto, Ont. OR “Now Voyager” Max EE Qe aR GILLESPIE, Elgin, lips, Regent, Sudbury, arranged a full window display in the City’s leading book store, featuring the novel with stills from the picture, copy and playdate prominently displayed in the foreground. At the theatre an imitation gangplank was arranged running from the entrance steps, to the foyer. Canvas sides, had large coils of rope, to create a nautical effect. Copy read “Take a step in the right direction, on a trip that will prove the experience of a lifetime. Cards and advertising were spotted in the local library and ladies’ specialty shops. Washington, through its amusement section of the War Production Board, has issued a list of nine rules for fire prevention in theatres which can be applied in Canada. C. J. Dunphy, handing out the rules, pointed out that fires in normal times were a serious problem, but today, with priorities on Sha theatres burnt out might have to stay that way for ! the duration. Following are the rules: 1—Pull the main entrance switch at the conclusion of each day’s operation. One employee should be delegated to this task. . 2—Do not permit an accumulation of inflammable rubbish in store rooms, poster rooms, boiler or furnace rooms. 3—Appliance cords for vacuum cleaners, work lights or other portable apparatus should be inspected daily and, if found defective, should be repaired immediately. 4—Smoking in a _ projection booth should not be permitted under any circumstances. 5—At the conclusion of each day's run, all films should be removed from the projector magazine of rewinder and placed in the film storage cabinet. Trailers and adfilms should never be left exposed when not in use. 6—The use of electric or other Ottawa, had a 40 x 60 blowup with appropriate copy for “Paratroops.” Small cardboard parachutes done in black, white and red, were suspended from. the marquee advertising this timely short subject. A successful morning show was given for the Boy Scout medicine bottle campaign. A cutout with pictures of Adolph, Benito, and Horatio were enclosed in a bottle, with copy “Let’s Bottle fhe Axis.” This cutout was arranged out front, and this “Bottle Matinee’ brought amazing results. Theatre Fire Rules Issued by USA types of portable heaters should be avoided at all times while handling films. 7—The operation of porthole shutters should be frequently tested to see that the shutters slide freely in the grooves. The entire porthole shutter system should be properly fused to insure that shutter will close instantaneously in case of fire. 8—Have local fire officials make regular inspections of the theatre from roof to the basement. Their recommendations for fire prevention should be followed implicitly. 9—Faulty electrical contacts and switch board connections are responsible for the majority of theatre fires. The entire electrical system should be checked frequently and electrical contacts carefully tightened to eliminate this fire hazard. Film Guys Make Big Muscles Thirteen film fellows have organized a theatre men’s group at the YMHA for huffing and puffing every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Among the muscle-makers are Harry Lester, Barney and Frank Goldhar, Gus Solway, Al Daniels, Harry Romberg, Henry Falk, Max Starkman and Harold Kay. December 16th, 1942 (Rites Held for —<—<—<—<$<$<$<$<$< <<< ss sss Boston Victims Rites were held last week for the film people who lost their lives in the Boston fire. An unusually large number of American exchange and theatre men and women were present at the time of the tragedy to attend a party in honor of Buck Jones. Jones lost his life in the fire after returning several times to help people out. Many of the victims were known in Canada. Among the list of 449 dead and scores injured in the Cocoanut Grove fire, those identified with film business follow. The extent of the injuries detailed in story herewith: DEAD Edward Ansin, president of Interstate Circuit of New England, and Mrs. Ansin. Harry Asher, independent distribution executive in New England. Paul Barron, branch manager for Universal in Boston, and Mrs. Barron. Eugene Gross, Monogram sales man in company's Boston exchange. Charles (Buck) Jones, cowboy film star. Mrs. Bernard Levin, wife of Columbia film salesman. Charles Stern, eastern district sales manager for United Artists in Boston. Mrs. Herman Rifkin, wife of Monogram franchise holder in Boston. Fred Sharby, Keene, N.H., exhi bitor, Mrs. Sharby and scm Fred, Jr. Mrs. Martin Sheridan, wife of local Boston publicist for Monogram. Phil Seletsky, chief film puyerbooker for Mullen & Pinanski Theatres in Beston, and Mrs. Seletsky. Lawrence Stone, Monogram salesman in Boston exchange. INJURED Scott R. Dunlap, producer at Monogram and v. p. of the company. Moe Grassgreen, Boston branch manager for Twentieth Fox. Bernard Levin, salesman for Columbia at Boston. Fred Lieberman, owner of Boston theatre circuit, and Mrs. Lieberman. Herman Rifkin, New "England franchise holder for Monogram. Martin Sheridan, Monogram press agent in Boston. Mrs. Charles Stern, eastern district sales manager for UA. . Mrs. Lawrence Stone, Mono salesman. Mrs. O. A. St. Pierre, wife of art director for M. & P. Theatres Harry C. Thomas, N. Y., and Philadephia franchise holder for Mono, wife ot wife off 4 i { Le CL St CC Ce CONE te pete